Project improvements include widening the roadway from two to four lanes with a raised median, adding two railroad overpasses, adding left turn lanes at intersections and access roads. The improvements are targeting a 1.4-mile stretch of FM 3009, which runs through Schertz and Garden Ridge, between Interstate 35 and FM 2252.

Officials in both Garden Ridge and Schertz say they are looking forward to the project's completion.

“I am very pleased that the project is moving along,” said Garden Ridge Mayor Jay Feibelman, when he was given an update on the project at the April 6 City Council meeting.

The mayor added that the two railroad overpasses will allow Schertz EMS to respond quicker to an emergency without having to wait for a train. Schertz EMS serves Garden Ridge area residents.

The completion of the project signifies that more growth is coming Garden Ridge's way and with it more traffic, he said.

“It is sort of sad to see our innocence go away with these overpasses and these four-lane roads,” Feibelman said. “Eventually it is going to be four lanes (on FM 3009) through here all the way to (Highway) 46. Eventually, there probably will be four lanes (on FM 2252) to New Braunfels. It is progress and you're not going to be able to stop it.”

Schertz Mayor Hal Baldwin said the project's completion will help ease morning and late afternoon rush hour traffic. “The number of cars on FM 3009 is growing daily,” he said. “Having (the roadway) opened to all four lanes of traffic is going to be a blessing for people who will use it.”

Baldwin said one drawback is that businesses on Bell North Drive, west of the roadway, are worried about having their access cut, as customers traveling north on FM 3009 would have to exit onto a one-way access road and then circle around to Bell North.

While motorists will eventually get use to the pattern, the mayor said it will probably cause some confusion at first.

Last week one of the overpasses was completed, allowing traffic in both directions to utilize it. Laughter said when both overpasses are finished each will have four lanes of traffic, with two lanes and a bike lane going in each direction.

Besides completing the overpasses, Laughter said construction crews still need to finish widening the roadway and putting up the raised center median.